Forming the Dream Team for Dragon Hunting
There was no reason to refuse. No, this was something I absolutely had to do. I pulled up the gallery window.
The gallery exploded. BlackFlameDragon in particular seemed to be typing through tears.
“I’ll do it.”
I nodded at Odin.
“We’ll hunt the dragon. In return...”
“In return?”
“I’ll handle all the butchering myself. The best cuts belong to me.”
“Hahaha! How very like a chef. Deal accepted!”
When I returned to the restaurant, I immediately gathered the staff. It was break time. I locked the front door and called an emergency meeting.
“A dragon?” Lucy, sprawled on the sofa, lifted her head. “That lizard? It tastes awful and it’s tough. Why bother?”
“It’s a request from the Magic Tower Master. And...”
I leaned in close and whispered.
“You know about the Dragon Heart, right? It’s a massive lump of pure mana. I heard that if you cook it properly, it becomes an absolute delicacy.”
Lucy’s eyes sparkled.
“Dragon Heart...?”
“Yes. Just one of those and you won’t have to worry about your mana for a long time. You could use it freely. And even if the heart dish turns out disappointing, imagine how incredible dragon steak would taste.”
“......”
Lucy swallowed hard.
“I’m going. Let’s go right now.”
As expected, food was the ultimate persuasion.
“Baron, sharpen your cleaver. The hide this time is going to be extra thick.”
“A dragon, huh... I’m not sure my greatsword can handle it. But I want to carve it. This will be the pinnacle of my career as a chef!” Baron burned with fighting spirit.
“Marie, pack some lunches. This might turn into a long battle.”
“Yes, Boss! I’ll prepare high-calorie combat rations!”
“Ogre, you’re the pack mule. We’ll need your strength to carry the dragon corpse back.”
“Grrraaawr! (Just leave it to me!)”
And finally...
“Sir Vargas.”
I called out to Vargas, who was reading a bible in the corner.
“I’m not going.” Vargas cut me off cleanly. “I came to judge heretics, not play hunter.”
“Oh, really? That’s too bad. I heard that when you kill a dragon, legendary items and ancient holy relics drop. Especially from a dragon corrupted by the demon race.”
“......Holy relics?”
“Yes. Since it’s a dragon that’s fallen to the demon race, its stomach is probably full of relics from the holy knights it devoured in the past... It would be a shame to leave them unpurified forever.”
Vargas shot to his feet.
“Is this enough preparation?”
“Yes. Please put on your armor.”
The team was complete.
🛡️ Tank: Demon King Lucy (Strongest)
⚔️ DPS: Me (Future Dark Mage Swordsman), Baron (Physical Sub-DPS)
💉 Healer/Support: Vargas (Holy Power), Marie (Buffs)
🎒 Pack Mule: Ogre
🧙 Mage: (Implicit)
With this lineup, we could probably take down a dragon even if its great-grandfather showed up.
We took the portal opened by SeventhCircleArchmage Elena and arrived at the Red Canyon in the western part of the empire. An endless stretch of barren rocky mountains. A massive shadow was kicking up dust as it moved.
“KROOOOOOAAAR—!”
The corrupted Earth Dragon, Terras. It wasn’t a typical winged dragon. It was a land dragon that looked like a dinosaur—Tyrannosaurus—wearing armor. Its entire body was covered in rock-hard scales, and crimson madness poured from its eyes.
“Whoa... It really is huge.”
Baron sounded overwhelmed.
“How are we supposed to cut that? A sword won’t even pierce it.”
“Don’t worry. Skinning is my specialty.”
I drew the cursed blade Gwigok. The sword hummed with excitement.
(It’s a dragon! Dragon blood! Holy shit, it’s a buffet!)
“Lady Lucy, please start us off with a preemptive strike!”
“So annoying.”
Lucy yawned and stretched out her hand.
The Demon King, Lady Lucy, has used the Demon King’s Authority 'Gravity Crush'.
Rumble—!
An overwhelming gravitational force slammed down on the dragon’s head. The rampaging beast suddenly crashed into the ground.
“KYAAAAAEEK—?!”
It seemed shocked too.
“Now! Attack!”
We didn’t miss the opening and charged all at once. Vargas smashed the dragon’s toes with his mace while deploying a holy barrier. Baron circled around to the tail and targeted the Achilles tendon. And I...
“I’m finishing this job change quest right here!”
I leaped toward the dragon’s head. The mana inside my body fused with Gwigok’s sword energy.
Abyss Blade
The black sword energy swelled massively, as if it could slice through space itself.
“This is... the sword energy of the abyss!”
I brought the blade down toward the center of the dragon’s brow.
KWAAAAAANG—!
With a roar that shook the entire canyon, a new legend for the members of the Demon King’s Table was beginning.
Epilogue.
The dragon hunt was a success. Of course, contrary to expectations of a flawless victory, we got absolutely destroyed by the dragon’s offspring afterward, and Lucy ended up doing ninety percent of the work. Still, we won through sheer numbers. We returned to the Magic Tower in triumph carrying the dragon heart and meat.
Odin gave me the class change elixir as promised, and I officially became a Dark Mage Swordsman.
Name: Kim Daon
Level: 30 (Massive Increase)
Class: Dark Mage Swordsman (Unique)
Titles: Demon King’s Butler, Dragon Slayer, Otherworld Michelin 3-Star Chef
“Congratulations, Daon.”
Odin smiled warmly.
“You are now an empire hero and a VIP of the Magic Tower. And...”
Odin wiped his mouth.
“When will the dragon steak be ready?”
“I’ll prepare it right away.”
I headed into the kitchen of the Magic Tower’s cafeteria. New power, a new class, and reliable comrades. It had only been a month since I fell into this otherworld. I was no longer a newbie struggling just to survive.
No, I actually wanted to enjoy this spectacular and delicious life even more.
“Order up! One dragon steak, well done!”
With my shout, the curtain rose dramatically on the second act of my life.
GeniusNewbie: Wait, what do you all know? This is scary.
Ding.
“Daon, I’m here.”
CurseGirl entered with an ominous aura. She was still in her goth lolita outfit, clutching her rabbit doll. But today my gaze couldn’t stay on her.
It was because of the overwhelmingly large presence of the woman following behind her.
“Oh my, so this is the restaurant I’ve heard so much about?”
When she removed her robe, everyone in the shop—even Kastab—swallowed hard. Long, wavy blue hair that reached her waist. Skin as white as a snow-covered mountain. And above all...
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat, unsure where to look. The tight blue knit dress revealed a truly ‘violent’ volume. A mature beauty so overflowing with sensuality it seemed ready to explode. At first glance she looked like a married woman with two children, but there was no ring on her finger.
“Nice to meet you. The nickname is embarrassing, so please call me by my real name. I’m Sera.”
She approached with a gentle smile. With every step, I could sense something heavy swaying.
“Ah, yes! I’m Manager Kim Daon. Welcome, Lady Sera.”
I politely guided her to a seat. Lucy, in her cat form on the counter, took one look at Sera’s overwhelming figure and bristled.
Lady Lucy, please keep your thoughts to yourself! I can hear everything.
Sera and CurseGirl sat down.
“The weather is so hot. Do you have anything refreshing? I tend to run a bit warm.”
Sera fanned herself with her hand. A cool chill rose around her. It wasn’t ordinary cold air. It was pure, condensed ice energy filled with magic power.
“Perfect timing. We have a new menu item. How about the Demon King’s Patbingsu?”
“Patbingsu? What’s that?”
“It’s a dessert from my original world. Shaved ice topped with sweet red bean paste, condensed milk, and fruit.”
I headed into the kitchen and called Kastab and Marie. Then I took out the milk ice I had frozen in advance.
“Marie, shave the ice! Kastab, check the sweetness of the red bean paste!”
Scrape, scrape.
On the snowflake-like shaved milk ice, I piled on plenty of homemade red bean paste, added chewy rice cakes, and drizzled condensed milk.
“Here it is. The Demon King’s Snowflower Patbingsu.”
Sera scooped a spoonful of the white mountain of ice.
“......!”
Her blue eyes widened.
“Oh my... Goodness.”
She covered her mouth in awe.
“The cold ice melts smoothly in your mouth. And this sweet red bean... It’s so delicious!”